Electrolytic cell.



P. H. BRIGGS.

ELEGTROLYTIG CELL.

APPLIOATIONTILED SBM-.13, 1911.

Patented Aug. 2'?, 1912.

`NlTE l FRANK H. IBRIGGS, OF ELYRIA, GHIO.

ELECTROLr'rre CELL.

i I Specification of Letters Patent.

?atented Aug. 27, 1912.

.App1ication1ed September 18, 1911. Serial No. 649,166.

To all whom itu/Lay cmi/ccm:

`Be it known that I, FRANK H. Barcos, a

' citizen of the UnitedStates, residingat 'container with its contents may be removed from the other parts of the cell, without moving or disturbing such other parts.

The invention may be said to include the elements andcombinations thereof set forth in the accoii'ipanying claims.

Referencefshould be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein the figure showsan electrolytic cell, and the associated devices used in operating the same, in front elevation with parts in section.

In the con'unercial operation 0f processes involving the electrolytic treatment of substances, it is the usual practice to restthe containing receptacle ofthe cell upon a floor, and the cell equipment, including electrode, cover and'so forth, are usually carried upon someV support which holds the equipment in proper relation to the electrolytic container. lVhen the treatment of a particular batch of material is completed, the cell equipment is removed from the container and the contents are removed to some other tank or receptacle to bel further treated.

The electrodes and other cell equipment are usually of fragile material and easily damaged, especially bythe repeated han-v dling, being therefore notl only a cause of great annoyance by' the breakage, but a source. of considerable expense, as well.

My cell provides a structure wherein the cell equipment is carried by a"ixed supportn ing means, while the containing receptacle may be moved into or out of operative relation with the'cell equipment without in any way disturbing or moving such equipment.

In the drawing, the containing receptacle is indicated at A, and the anode elect-rode is shown at B. The cathode electrode comprises a series of conical shaped electrodes ers Cl upon a conducting bar D.

The elect-rode B and the bar l) are supported at their opposite ends in walls E and F. These walls maay be made of cement itious or other non-conducting material which resists the action of the chemicals composing the electrolyte.' The walls F aresupported upon hangers G which are suspended from some supporting means, such as is indicated at H.V This support H may be a portion ofthe ceiling in a room or a beam suitably supported at some distance above the ioor of the building in which the process is being performed.

The bar or conducting rod 1D is suitably connected with a source of electric current by the conductor I, while the electrode B is likewise suitably connected with the same source of electricity by means of the conductor J. The conductor J is introduced to .the electrode B through a pipe K, which may be of porcelain or silicious material, or of any material that will resist the action of the chemicals forming the electrolyte.

'Supported upon the Walls E and I" is a cover L, and connected with the space included Within the over is a pipe M which connects Wit-h a receptacle N, whereby gases which mayl be formed during the process and collect beneath the cover, may be conducted to the container N. Heating coils S are also supported by the wallsl] and F and extend beyond each wall and above thecontainer in order that proper connections may be made to supply a heat-ing medium.

The receptacle A yis supported Iupon a car l C which is provided with wheels P, the same being adapted to run upon a track carried upon the plat-form Q. This platform may be raised and lowered as desired, and when inits raised position, as shown in the drawing, presents the receptacle A so as to surround and contain the electrodes.

Upon the completion of the treatment of a particular batch of material, the platforn'i Q may be lowered until the top thereof is iush with the floor It, which likewisernay be providedivith tracks which matclrwith the tracks upon the platform Q when the same is lowered.

The platform Q being lowered, the receptacle A is removed from its association vwith the electrodes, without in any way disturbing the electrodes or their mountings therefor. Consequently, no matter how fragile the electrodes may be, there is no danger of their becoming brokenl or otherwise damaged by the removal of the -recep tacle and the material therein.

When the platform Q is lowered, the carriage .O -and the receptacle Amay" Je re are , cathode will tend to rise through `the liquid,

movedforfurther treatment, while a new instead ot' adhering to the electrode. Hence, receptacle is substltuted 1n place oi? the one the forms ot these electrodes assist in the which has been taken away, and the treat ment of a new batch of material proceeded with.

It may be desirable to mount one or both of the electrodes in some manner other than upon the supporting frame. However, 4there always some equipment which must necessarily be mounted upon the frame, such as the cover, heating coils, etc.

It should be noted that in, the present types-of cell wherein the electrodes are removed from the container, and the material within the container removed, the entire cell. isout of commission during the removing operation, whereas in the proposedtype ot' cell, the cell is only out of commission during the time necessary to lower one receptacle and replace it by another. It will be appreciated that this saving of time is quite an important factor in the general output o' a plant, and presents a material advantage in favor of 4this cell.

An electrolytic cell constructed as herein described may be made much larger in than cells may at presentbe made where the electrodes and equipment are manually removed at the end of each operation ot the cell. Larger cells insure economy of operation because with my large cell, the amount ol labor and time required is no greater than is required in using small cells.

The electrodes C composing the cathode electrode as before said are conical in shape and are suspended in such a manner that the apices of the electrodes are substantially coincident with the surface of the electro# lyte. The hydrogen which is formed at the depolarization of the cell. ever, be understood that the electrodes l and C may assume other forms than that shown without departing from the spirit oi this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim is:`

l. rlhe combination with anelectrolyte container and electrodes, of an eleetrolytic cell, of a fixed support normally extending within the container, a cover and heating elements carried by said support, and means for removing the container without dis- It will, lhow- Q. The combination with a fixed member Il, ot' a support mounted thereon, electrolytic cell equipment carried by said support, a container' normally inclosingfthe support, and means for removably supporting the container whereby it may be removed without disturbing the support or parts carried thereby.

3. 'lhe combination with an electrolyte container of an elcctrolytic cell, a fixed support normally extending within the container, electrolytic cell equipment carried by said support, a container normally inclosing the support, a platform upon which said container is supported, the said platform being` adapted to be raised and lowered to remove the container without disturbing,r the support and the parts carried thereby.

In testimony whereof, l hereunto ailix my signatur-e in the presence of two witnesses.

f FRANK II. BRIGUS. \Vitnesses:

A. J. HuDsoN, H. R. SULLIVAN.

turbing the su pport or parts carried thereby. 

